You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under chapter
552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID # 122865.

The Dallas Police Department (the "department") received a request for "any and all files,
records and any other documents" concerning specified persons. You claim that the
requested information is excepted from disclosure under section 552.101 of the Government
Code in conjunction with section 411.083 of the Government Code. We have considered the
exception you claim and reviewed the submitted information.

Section 552.101 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure "information considered
to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision." This
section encompasses information protected by other statutes. We first recognize that
section 552.101 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure criminal history report
information ("CHRI"). Where an individual's criminal history information has been
compiled by a governmental entity, the information takes on a character that implicates the
individual's right to privacy. See United States Dep't of Justice v. Reporters Comm. for
Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989) (concluding that federal regulations which
limit access to criminal history record information that states obtain from the federal
government or other states recognize privacy interest in such information). Similarly, open
records decisions issued by this office acknowledge this privacy interest. See Open Records
Decision Nos. 616 (1993), 565 (1990). Therefore, the department must withhold the
requested CHRI from the requestor.

We are resolving this matter with an informal letter ruling rather than with a published open
records decision. This ruling is limited to the particular records at issue under the facts
presented to us in this request and should not be relied upon as a previous determination
regarding any other records. If you have questions about this ruling, please contact our
office.

Sincerely,

David Van Brunt Price
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division